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Money

Inflation calculator

Convert dollars between years with historical CPI, or project with an assumed rate. Learn the concept.

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Consumer Price Index (CPI)

A US government index tracking the average change in prices urban consumers pay for a basket of goods and services.

CPI is the most common measure of US inflation, published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Tax brackets, Social Security benefits and many limits are adjusted each year using CPI-based measures.

Inflation rate = CPI(later) ÷ CPI(earlier) − 1

Example: If the CPI rises from 300.0 to 315.0 over a year, inflation was 315 ÷ 300 − 1 = 5%, so a $50,000 salary would need to rise to $52,500 to keep pace.

Full entry
Worth in 2026-08

Real vs. nominal

Nominal amounts are actual dollar figures; real amounts are adjusted for inflation to reflect buying power.

A nominal return or balance is the raw number; a real one strips out inflation so you can see what it actually buys. Comparing plans in real terms keeps decades-long projections honest.

Real return = (1 + nominal) ÷ (1 + inflation) − 1

Example: If your portfolio earns 7% while inflation runs 3%, your real return is 1.07 ÷ 1.03 − 1 ≈ 3.88%. Over 30 years, $100,000 grows to $761,226 on paper, which buys what about $313,615 buys today.

Full entry
$262.94
Cumulative inflation
162.9%
Average per year
2.68%

Data: CPI-U (CUUR0000SA0): All items, U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted, 1982-84=100, through 2026-08. Source: BLS.

Estimates only. Results are projections based on your assumptions and bundled data, not tax, legal, or investment advice.